LA Times: USTA drops Justin Gimelstob from its U.S. Open TV ad campaign

July 10, 2008

The United States Tennis Association dropped Tennis Commentator Justin Gimelstob from their advertising campaign, according the Los Angeles Times. The dismissal happened because of a recent radio interview in which Gimelstob used derogatory language about Anna Kournikova and suggestive language about current tennis player Nicole Vaidisova. What is missing from this aritcle is why the Tennis Channel, who employs Gimelstob, has not pulled him or reprimanded him. In an earlier Canadian Press article (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gaClnPLvgnoud66LZdh4ZQrDbkwA) the Tennis Channel pointed out that Gimelstob's remarks were not made on its network, and issued this statement:

"We extend our sincere apologies to those who may have been offended by his comments," the statement said. "There is simply no place in our Tennis Channel family for language that is derogatory or dismissive of women.
"This is especially true with regard to tennis which, perhaps more so than any other sport, stands so integrated and squarely upon the contributions of women, many of whom have broken significant ground for equality and helped to tear down traditional societal barriers between the sexes."